Let's Go 2000: China : The World's Bestselling Budget Travel Series

by Inc. Let's Go

Release Date: 01 January, 2000

Edition: Paperback

Price:

More Info

Overall good but lacking in some important details

I have just came back from China using this book for my travel. One BIG mistake this book did not tell you is DON'T TRAVEL IN CHINA during 5/1-5/5 and 10/1-10/5. Apparently, the WHOLE COUNTRY is on a 5 day holiday. This has been going on for the past 2-3 years. When you look in the book, it only tells you that 5/1 and 10/1 are holidays. No, no, no. Majority of the country is on the move. Transportation, lodging and food service are difficult to find. A lot of government services are either closed or on minimum service schedule.

Some of the prices and ticket prices are already out of date. I guess they have not made the effort to update this.

A train schedule with explaination would've been extremely helpful. I was lucky to be able to speak Chinese. Even I was unable to make head or tail of the schedule that I brought. You can only buy one way train ticket. If you want round trip, you have to buy it at the other end or through a travel agent.

Helpful guide

I found this guide helpful, especially in Beijing. The writing is good and I especially liked how place names were printed in Chinese characters (which made it easy to show taxi drivers). I do find it regretful that the writers only spend seven weeks in the country though. Many people travel during the other 45 weeks of the year and it would be nice to have authoritative information from the non-peak tourist season.